My (ongoing) College Admissions Story

Applying to College Admission Stories
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BIG UPDATE #14: One month ago today, I was feeling very anxious, so anxious to the point that I literally felt sick to my stomach. I didn’t know when it was going to come. All the frustration, anger, nerves, and impatience piling on. Despite applying all the way back on August 1st, I STILL have yet to receive a response from my first choice, UMass Amherst. No portal change or snail mail. My impatience has now become indifference. I used to be willing to wait until Spring 2016 to enroll if that’s what it took. If I am deferred, I will NOT wait until mid-April to get a final verdict from them; instead, I will treat it as a rejection and focus on my remaining options.

While we’re on the subject of options, I am very pleased to announce that I can add a fourth school to the acceptance list. I received an acceptance letter in the mail from University of North Carolina Wilmington this past Monday. UNCW is in my top three, so I was very excited to hear positive news from them. When talking to my admissions rep from that school, she did say that although my GPA was lower than normally expected (especially for an OOS applicant), my SAT score was excellent, my “Why UNCW” essay showed that I really researched the school, my CA essay was strong, and the committee apparently really felt like I would succeed there. She ensured me that the 18% OOS cap meant that they had to make some very difficult decisions, as this cycle is one of their most competitive ever. Another nice thing to note is that when I introduced myself to open the call, she remembered me from our discussions that we had back in August when I applied. And to think I was debating whether to apply there or to Florida State…seems like I made the wiser choice :slight_smile:

Yesterday, in contrast, saw me deferred from Binghamton EA. I did consider it more of a reach because of the acceptance rate and how they pay attention to course rigor. They said that I would receive a final verdict by April 1st. However, I probably will have already signed somewhere by then, so their decision will not have any bearing on me.

Current admissions record: 4-3
Rider University - accepted
Stetson University - accepted
Clark University - rejected
Fordham University - rejected
Northeastern University - rejected
Quinnipiac University - accepted
University of North Carolina Wilmington - accepted

Order of preference of remaining schools:

  1. University of Massachusetts Amherst*
  2. Bentley University
  3. University of North Carolina Wilmington
  4. Quinnipiac University
  5. Syracuse University
  6. Hofstra University
  7. State University of New York at Binghamton
  8. Stetson University
  9. Rider University
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@lbad96 Ugh. Still nothing from UMass? Got my acceptance on Tuesday. Hope it’s headed towards you by now!

103

You sir are my brotheren,
Stoked to see someone out there with similar(ish) stats applying to the same schools.
G.P.A: 2.8
SAT:1860 (600 W 650 M 610 CR)

Went to the top ranked private school (YORK ) and the 6th best boarding school in the world. (WOODSTOCK)
4 AP’S
EC’S:
Founded an investment club
Oceanographic Engineer Intern
Small cap investment firm intern
Sailing Team
Sailing Coach
and so on…blah blah blah

also, student with disability: diagnosed with ADD/WO (mentioned in my explanation essay about reasons for poor academics)

How hard do think Bentley really is to get into? It says like 44% selective, but I feel like it be TOO hard.
do you think us B-/C+ ballarz have a chance?

104

cant be to hard

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@BabsonDURutgers: I’m curious to know why you said “I feel like it can’t be too hard”?
Most applicants have a B+ to A- average, and your SAT score is within their average too (ie., it doesn’t offset your GPA, unlike LBad96’s.) So your odds are likely less than one in two, one in three more likely. So, you do have a chance, but not much. It’s a reach for you academically. In addition, because they practice preferential packaging, you’re unlikely to get a good financial aid package so your parents’ budget will play into it. If you want further chances, use the Chance thread. :slight_smile:

@Lbad96: wow, I can’t believe UMass is taking SO LONG!

106

@MYOS1634‌ tell me about it. I still have no snail mail, and the portal still says, “under review”. UNC-W is already an attractive option…

I noticed that I didn’t even highlight Rider in the bottom of my last update. Lol

107

Hm, I guess that’s a freudian slip about how likely Rider is to see you in the Fall!

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@MYOS1634‌ yup! Unfortunately for them, it looks like I’ll be one of the 30,000+ NJ high school seniors that’ll be leaving the state this year. :slight_smile:

109

Ok thanks for the info. I know I’m under qualified but I’m crossing my fingers and wishing for an acceptance. I’m a hardcore finance wiz. I’m strongly conveying my interest in finance to help my chances. Also, I have a disability, will Bentley consider the disability and be more lackadaisical with my GPA?

110

@MYOS1634

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BIG UPDATE #15:

It finally came. After having it as my first choice since April 2014, being eager enough to apply Early Action on August 1st, and showing as much interest as possible without being able to visit (including communicating with my admissions representative twice to express my high interest), I heard back from the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Friday.

It was a denial.

I’ll be honest: I wasn’t that upset. I was a little surprised to see the rejection online, however. But although I would have been hysterical had I received this news about a month ago, the wait from when I applied to when I was notified of a decision was so lengthy that I was no longer emotionally invested in the school. I had moved on, and my two most recent acceptances had made it that much easier to do so. It is a bit of a shame that I won’t ever get to try their campus dining, however.

I was also deferred from Bentley. To be honest, I considered it a reach, and therefore anticipated another denial. I was pleasantly surprised to still be in the running for a place in their freshman class. I should hear back for a final time in late March. Unfortunately, with me being very much verbally committed to UNC Wilmington, I’d have to turn down any offer they would give me. So it looks like that my immediate future will not lie in the state of Massachusetts after all. I’ve gotten some type of result from all of my schools except for Syracuse. All the schools that have accepted me are classified as “regional” universities by USNWR, but I’ve had no luck with any “national” university.

I want to attend UNCW more and more with each passing day. The students I’ve met on the Quad are really laid back and cool, just like those at the university already. Going to school in North Carolina, and near the beach specifically, would be simply amazing (especially enjoyable during those cold winter months!). My admissions rep seems to really want me to attend. And, going from recent trends, I’d be the only member of my graduating class from my school to attend UNCW, so I’d finally get the fresh start that I’ve wanted since the end of my miserable sophomore year. I have broken a bit of an unwanted record, though: my GPA is the lowest of any student that’s ever been accepted to UNC by the Sea from my high school, EA or RD.

Current admissions record (W-D-L): 4-3-4*
Rider University - accepted
Stetson University - accepted
Clark University - rejected
Hofstra University - deferred
Fordham University - rejected
Northeastern University - rejected
Quinnipiac University - accepted
University of North Carolina Wilmington - accepted
State University of New York at Binghamton - deferred
University of Massachusetts Amherst - rejected
Bentley University - deferred
NOTE: The deferrals will either be moved to either side of the acceptance/rejection pile, or stay in that column depending on if I commit before I hear back from them for a final decision.

Record by state:
Massachusetts: 0-1-3
New York: 0-2-1
North Carolina: 1-0
Florida: 1-0
Connecticut: 1-0
New Jersey: 1-0

Order of preference of remaining schools:

  1. **University of North Carolina Wilmington/b
  1. **Quinnipiac University**
  2. Syracuse University
  3. *Bentley University*
  4. *Hofstra University*
  5. *State University of New York at Binghamton*
  6. **Stetson University**
  7. **Rider University**
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@Lbad96 It sure seems like UNC-Wilmington is a GREAT school with pretty high admissions standards - so sincere congratulations are definitely in order! After looking over the profile I wish it made my son’s list – though no more guarantee that he’d get into there versus UMass (he’s an RD applicant, so still has some time) or some of his other reach schools. Quinnipiac has made a nice offer so he’s considering that but still awaiting more answers. For you, sure seems that Wilmington is THE answer. Well played!

113

I only read the first and last page of your post so this topic might have already been addressed. I think you should apply for financial aid even though your parents saved for a college fund for you. If their income is < $30,000 they could probably use that money for their retirement instead. It wouldn’t hurt to try. Good luck to you!

114

@brucemag‌ you’re indeed right; UNC Wilmington IS a FANTASTIC school! After Chapel Hill, it’s definitely second in the UNC system academically, far ahead of Charlotte, Greensboro, Asheville and Pembroke. It’s VERY competitive, especially with the OOS cap. Wilmington seems to have everything I want in a school, from the looks of it. Now I just have to visit - I might have to wait until March for that. Thank you for the sincere congrats!! :slight_smile:

@Lkjh0987‌ your point has been taken. We’re probably applying for financial aid. Thank you for the suggestion!

115

^You can fill out FAFSA and it means you’ll get a federal loan ($5,500) but you wouldn’t get a grant unless your family income qualifies for Pell. Your assets (college fund) would likely not qualify you for Pell grants though, so essentially you’d take on a loan for $5,500 and your parents could put that money aside for their retirement, not a bad action really.

In many cases, especially at need-aware schools, if you didn’t apply for FA at the time of admission, you can’tapply at all (ie., at Quinnipiac for instance).

Congratulations on Bentley - great school, and since you’ve been doing well this year I believe it’ll tip toward admit. I think Bing will be a deny. And UNC-Wilmington IS a great school. :slight_smile:

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@MYOS1634‌ oh wow. I guess I’ll have to break that to my parents. I did say that I wasn’t going to apply for FA when I applied. I can’t just call the schools to confirm this? But anyways, thanks for the congratulations!! :slight_smile:

117

I’ve loved reading your story! Congrats on the UNC-W acceptance (along with all the others). I know many kids who have gone there and they’ve all loved it. But, for clarification, there are 17 schools in the UNC system, including East Carolina, NC State, Appalachian, Western Carolina - many do not start with the “UNC-” designation. http://www.northcarolina.edu/?q=content/our-17-campuses

118

@mamaduck‌ Oh, I see. Wilmington is the second best school with the UNC designation, then. :slight_smile: Thanks for the clarification and the congratulations! :slight_smile:

119

Appalachian state is an amazing school also. It is hard to get into though.

120

@college67‌ looking at Appalachian State, it is indeed a good school. The acceptance rate, however, is 68%, so it’s not as difficult to get into as it is to get into Wilmington.